Boat, raft, or float



Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,925

' R. A. DOBSON BOAT, RAFT, OR FLOAT Filed June 29, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l 86 E36 /8 E6 /E3 lzozeraflmoasonf Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,925

R. A. DOBSON BOAT, RAFT, 0R FLOAT Filed June 29, 1920 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 co D fnveiwiov: B07262"? Jllkimsofi Patented Feb. 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT A. IDO-IBSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOAT, RAFT, OR FLOAT.

Application filed June 29, 1920. Serial No. 392,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, ROBERT A. DOBSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of lVIassachuse-tts,'have invented an Improvement in Boats, Rafts, or Floats, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to boats, fioats\ or rafts and more particularly to boats or rafts of the life-saving type. v

The invention and its aims and objects will be best understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of a boat embodying one form of said invention and selected for the purpose of illustration, it being understood that the invention in its true scope is definitely set forth by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a boat embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the boat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the boat shown in Fig. 1.-

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated I provide what may conveniently be termed a supporting member or pontoon 2. This pontoon may be of any suitable form or construction but herein preferably is of oval shape and consists of a relatively thin air-tight metal tube 4 surrounded by a sheath of cork 6, which is in turn enveloped in a wrapping of canvas 8. The walls of the tube 4 will preferably be of copper and the tubes will preferably be divided into a plurality of air-tight bulkheads by transverse partitions. To the top of the pontoon is secured an oval member 10 preferably of wood. This member forms the gunwale and while it may be secured to the pontoon in any suitable manner, I preferably secure it by ropes 12 fastened about the pontoon and extending through perfof rations provided in the member 10, see Figs. 1 and 2.

To the bottom of the pontoon at each side are preferably secured skids 14. These skids serve to protect the pontoon from con-. tact with rocks or other objects when in the water and also from contact with the ground or beach and landing. They also enable the boat to be drawn over the ground. These skids are preferably secured to the pontoon by those of the ropes 12 by which the gunwale 10 is secured to the pontoon at the sides.

The prow 16 of the boat is secured to the gunwale 10 and to the forward portions of the skids 14. It will preferably be sufficiently high to protect the persons in the boat from water breaking over the bow when the boat is being propelled, particularly through high waves. Besides the ropes 12 above referred to for securing the gunwale and skids to the pontoon, the latter will preferably have extending all around it both along its outer and along its inner side and along its top and bottom, ropes 18, 20, 22, and 24 which are connected by ropes 26 bound around the pontoon.

At the stern a suitable rudder frame 28 carries the rudder 30 provided with a tiller 82.

In addition to the skids 14, four rollers 34 may be provided mounted on axles 36 extending between skids 14 and secured in any suitable manner to the latter. These rollers enable the boat to be drawn over surfaces over which it could not be readily drawn on the skids. V

Seats 38 may be provided, said seats being preferably secured at their opposite ends to the under side of the gunwale 10.

The floor 39 of the boat is preferably made independent of theremainder of the boat and will preferably be secured to the latter so as to be movable relatively thereto. It will also preferably be provided with a longitudinally extending central bulkhead 40 and a plurality of transversely extending bulkheads 42 so as to form substantially airtight compartments. thus rendering the floor more buoyant.

In order that the floor 39 may be movable relatively to the rest of the boat. it is herein provided along its sides and at its forward end with eyes 44, see Figs. 1 and 3. These eyes are loosely secured by shackles 46 and links 48 to the pontoon. The shackles 46 engage the eyes 44 secured to the floor and eyes at one end of the links 48, the rope 22 that extends along the inner side of the pontoon passing through eyes atthe opposite ends of the links.

The eyes 44 are extended vertically, thus allowing considerable vertical p ay to the shackles, and this vertical play added to that of the swinging links 48 allows a considerable vertical movement of the floor relatively to the pontoon. The bottom of the boat is thus enabled to rise and fall with the level of the water independently of the rest of the boat. Thus if the boat for any reason sinks somewhat in the water, the floor will rise with the water thus keeping the floor practically free from Water at all times. Water coming into the boat for any reason will'readily flow off around the edges of the floor. This is agreat advantage over boats in which the floor is secured to'the rest of the boat as any water shipped by boats of that kind remainsin the boat.

Boats constructed in accordance with my invention may-be propelled by any suitable means, by sails, oars or power. In the embodiment of theinvention herein shown the boat is intended to bepropelled by a-inotor or internal combustion engine, not :shown, and driving a propeller 50. Any suitable propeller and power transmission 'mechanism between the engine and the propeller may be used and these thereforeneed not be described. The engine will preferably be contained inahousing 52 to protect it from the water.

Boats constructed in accordance with any invention are light and buoyant and practically unsinlrable. They are simple in construction and reasonable to manufacture. Owing to their lightness and buoyancy immersion is relatively slight. and-they are thus readily propelled and ride waves with ease. The advantages of the movable 'fioor have already been referred to.

It will be understood that while the invention is herein described as embodied in the details illustrated, the invention is notv to be construed as circumscribed by or limited to these details or any of them, but that the said details may be variously modified Within the true scope of the invention which is definitely set forth by the claims.

Claims- 1. In a boat, in combination, a floor; a tubular copper pontoon surrounding said floor; means to secure said floor to said pontoon While permitting limited relative move ment of said floor and pontoon; and portions'forming a bow and stern secured to said pontoon, to enable the boat to progress through the water by the aid of-suitable pro pelling means.

2. In a boat, in combination a tubular copper pontoon and a floor provided with air-tight compartments, said pontoon surrounding said floor, and bow and stern portions carried by said pontoon.

3. A life boat, comprising in combina tion, a'fioor, including a float provided with air-tight compartments; a pontoon surrounding said float andconsisting of a continuous copper tube provided with a canvas covering and a layer of cork'between said covering and the tube surface; bow and stern portions secured to said pontoonsto enable the boat to progress through the water by the aid of suitable propelling means; and means to secure said pontoon and floor'together, with the edgeof the floor in relatively close proximityto the pontoon while permitting limited relative movement of said pontoon and floor.

4:. Ina boat, in combination, a floor 'provided with air-tightcompartments; a metal tubular pontoon surrounding said floor; securing means to secure said floor and pontoon together "so as to permit limitedrelative movement of said pontoon a-nd'floo r in response-to the action of the 'water; and portions forming'a bow and stern at the front and rear respectively of said pontoon.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT A. DOBSON. 

